What if

Chapter 12

Meredith was discharged three days ago. Derek had a day off today, which means he could spend his day with Meredith and Zola. Carolyn was getting some groceries and Amelia was currently at work. Derek woke up to the sound of Zola crying, so he stood up and went over to Zola's bedroom. "Hey baby, what's wrong?" Derek asked his daughter as he picked her up. "Mama." Zola cried, Derek sighed. He knew Meredith couldn't remember Zola anymore since it was a new day. "Shh, everything is okay." Derek soothed her. "I want Mommy." Zola cried. "Zola baby. I'm sorry, mommy can't right now." Derek whispered into Zolas ear as he rubbed her back gently. How do you explain Alzheimer's to a 2 year old child? "Nana?" Zola then asked. "Nana is at the supermarket to get something to eat, she will be back soon." "I want Nana." Zola yelled as she kicked Derek into his stomach. "Zola stop. Nana will be back soon." "NO, I want Nana now." She sobbed. "Zola, nana is coming back soon. I promise and when Nana is back you can play with her all day." Derek assured her. Zola seemed to be fine with it and she calmed down, afte Derek made her food. Zola was sitting on the sofa and watching some movies. That was Derek's chance to check on Meredith.

"Meredith?" Derek asked as he stepped into his bedroom. "Hm?" Meredith opened her eyes and smiled at the sight of her husband. "Did you sleep well?" Derek asked, Meredith nodded. "Do you wanna take a bath?" He asked her, Meredith nodded again. Derek went into the bathroom and prepared the bath. "Mer, I'm going to check on something, after that you can take your bath." Derek told her while smiling, Meredith smiled as well. Derek stepped out of the room to check on Zola. Who was now sleeping on the sofa. Derek smiled and gently picked her up, brought her into her bedroom and placed her into her bed. So that she couldn't run away while Derek was helping Meredith with her bath. He placed a kiss on Zola's head before leaving the room, the door was slightly open.

"Mer, your bath is ready." Derek told Meredith as he stepped into the bedroom again. Derek went over to their bed and sat down on the edge, the wheelchair Meredith had to use was right next to her. "Can I lift you?" Derek asked, Meredith frowned but nodded. Derek picked her up and placed her into the wheelchair and kissed her forehead gently. "Derek, why do I have to use a wheelchair?" Meredith asked. "Your legs are not working the way they should. I can carry you if you want that." Derek explained. "Oh, and yes please carry me." Meredith answered. Derek lifted her up again and walked with her over to the bathroom, he sat her down on the toilet and began to undress her. He hoped that his body wouldn't react because of her naked body. Derek kissed her forehead as she looked away. "I love you." Derek whispered. "I love you too." She replied as she looked him into his eyes while smiling. Derek smiled as well and pecked her lips gently. After that he lifted her up again and placed her into the bathtub. He began to clean her up as Zola began crying. Derek sighed while Meredith frowned. "Derek what is that?" Meredith asked. "That's Zola, our daughter. We adopted her about 2 months ago. Is it okay if I'm going to check on her real quick?" Derek explained and asked. Meredith shook her head. "I don't want you to leave me." Meredith said with a quiet voice, Zola's cries began to get louder. Derek didn't know what to do. "Mer, I'm not leaving you I promise. Look here." He pointed to his and her wedding ring. "I'm not leaving you, not now, never." Derek explained. Meredith hesitated but nodded, Derek gave her a small smile and kissed her now wet hair gently. He hurried out of the bathroom and went to Zola's bedroom, who was now crying full force.

While Derek was gone, Meredith tried to get out of the bathtub but her legs kept giving in. So she fell back into the water. "Why can't I go out of the bathtub alone?" She asked herself. After a while she finally got out of the bathtub and tried to walk, but she slipped, right before she hit the ground Derek catched her. Derek's hand slammed against the bathtub. You could hear his hand cracking. Derek inhaled deeply trying not to scare Meredith. Derek sat her on the ground against the bathtub. "You good?" Derek asked with a panicked voice. Meredith nodded slightly. "I wanted to get out of the bathtub alone." Meredith explained. "I know, but you can't do this honey. Your legs are too weak to walk. We have to train them again." Derek tried to explain to her. "I will get some clothes for you. Don't move, I'm helping you after I'm back." Derek added as he went out of the bathroom. He looked down at his hand and saw that his hand was swollen and pounding. He knew that this wasn't good but he had to push through, at least until his mom or Amelia were back. He grabbed Meredith's Dartmouth shirt and some sweatpants and went back to the bathroom. He placed her clothes on the ground and tried to lift her up. He groaned in pain which concerned Meredith. "Derek you good?" Meredith asked. "I'm good Mer, don't worry about me." Derek replied as he placed her down on the toilet. He grabbed her clothes and helped her to get dressed. When he finished dressing her, he grabbed her toothbrush and some toothpaste, he handed it to her and she began to brush her teeth, meanwhile Derek went over to the bedroom to grab her wheelchair. They installed a chairlift for Meredith, so she could easily drive downstairs and even renovated some things in the house, to make it easier for Meredith with her wheelchair. Derek knew that Meredith would have to use the wheelchair for now, since her legs were very weak, because of the coding and Alzheimer's. "You ready Mer?" Derek asked as he peeked into the bathroom, Meredith nodded with a smile. Derek went over to her and tried to pick her up but his hand slipped away and slammed against the sink this time. His bones were cracking again, this wasn't good. Derek bit himself on his lip to ease the pain. "Derek?" Meredith asked. "I'm good." Derek said quickly as he lifted her up again, placed her into the wheelchair and kneeled down in front of her. "Derek, your hand is swollen." Meredith pointed out. "I know." Derek sighed. "But it'll be okay, don't worry." Derek added with a small smile. "Let me look at it." Meredith said. "Mer, it's okay. I'm fine." Derek replied. "That's my line." Meredith said with a small smile. "I know, but I'm fine really." Derek assured her. Meredith ignored what he said and grabbed his hand, Derek winced and inhaled deeply as she did that. "You're not fine. Your hand is not fine." "Meredith, it's probably nothing." Derek said. "Does it hurt when I do this?" Meredith asked as she pressed onto his hand. Derek quickly pulled his hand away and inhaled sharply. "It's something." Meredith told Derek. Derek sighed. "I know, I'll check on it later." Derek answered Meredith. "You should go to..." Meredith trailed off, she couldn't remember the name anymore. "Callie?" Derek guessed. "Yes, Callie was it. Go to Callie. I'll be okay here." Meredith said with a small smile. "Later." Derek whispered as he stood up and kissed her lips gently. "Now my love, I'm going to make you breakfast." Derek said as he wheeled her out of the bathroom. He placed her into the chairlift with a painful groan, folded the wheelchair and went downstairs while Meredith drove downstairs.